Angola: Ottawa treaty ratified

" Minas não, Ottawa sim! " ( " No to mines, yes to Ottawa! " ): this was the slogan of a play and dance performed on 1 March 2000, the first anniversary of the Ottawa treaty's entry into force, before a host of local dignitaries and representatives of the international community in Angola.

Four months later, on 25 July, Angolan members of parliament found their own way of expressing this slogan: the National Assembly ratified the Ottawa treaty (which Angola had signed at the time of its adoption, in 1997).

The ratification of the Ottawa treaty offers a glimmer of hope, but the complete eradication of anti-personnel landmines in Angola is still a long way off. Indeed, the destruction of stocks, the marking and clearance of mined areas, and assistance to victims will require much more effort and resources than does a simple vote of ratification. Even so, last month's vote was a necessary step towards this goal.